Game board for baseball



Dec. 11, 1923. 1,477,224

L. D. KROFF ems BOARD FOR BASE ALL;

' Filed Apri1 '2 o 1920 2 Shets-Sheet 1 BASES on MAN OH H on MA" on N on MAN on BASES FULL 2&6 i813 l&2 3rd. 2nd. {at EMPTY PIEJ INVENTO ATTORNEY Dec. 11 1923. 1,477,224

' L. D. KROFF GAME BOARD FOR BASEBALL v Filed April 20 1920 -2 sheets-sheath l6 16 k i 01 au l2 Fly out IBH 4 Bell 50.]. Fly v M tasvd Run in Ball Mhznd .SiynKg 0,0115% 5 Fly 0 Paul 0 Ba" Ball F\y Out F0v\ shake IBH I I511. 22 ob'u PM new nz 041M 7 5mm 0 qua o O Mug M an 151 M, 3P4 M. 2-5 Miu are r1 hn3rd an Home E. StruKe lBH EB Bull Fe\:\ O B JrknKe'. BuH

u1a M-Bm %fi rwl M E'l BASES MAN H HA?! OH MAN 0!! MAN on MAN OH MAN BASES FULL 2 b 3 & 3 8 2 3ro 2nd lst EMPTY INVENTOE Patented ca. 11, 1923.

nit-i l tres LEONARD n. KBOIEF, or STERLING, ILLInoIs, Ass Noa ro'rInsr racer-nan 4 SAVINGS BANK or sTnnL NG, or STERLING, I I IoIsncoRronnTIon or ILLINOIS.

GAME BOARD. non BASEBALL.

Application filed April 20, 1920. Serial No. 375,211.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LEONARD D. Knorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of /Vhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Game Board for Baseball, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to a game board for baseball, and is-specially constructed and arranged for playing a ame of ball by mechanical'means. t can, owever, be adapted for the playing of other well-known and popular games, such as football, cricket, etc.

It is a recognized fact that in the game of baseball, as generally played, there areeight fixed conditions, depending upon the positions of the players. These are, bases empty; man on first base; man on second base; man on third base; men on first and second bases; men on first and third bases; men on second and third bases; and bases full. Included with each of these conditions is a man at bat at the home plate. In connection with these conditions are a great variety of plays which go to make up the game.

i The chief purposes of the invention is to provide a stationary indicator showing the eight conditions referred to, and a movable indicator containing a variety of plays, so that certain ones thereof will apply to and be controlled by, one or other of the fixed conditions.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, compact, and efiicient apparatus by means of which the game may be played. I

The preferred form of the device is shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of invention, at

The apparatus comprises *a frame 1, fin one end OfWhlCll is rotatably mounted a shaft 2 upon which is secured a cylinder 3. Fixed toone end of said shaft is a toothed wheel 4, engaged by a' spring arm 5 on the end of a leverf6, pivoted in'one side of the frame, as at a. The lever 6 is held yieldably in-elevated position by means of-a spring 7,1cnnected at one endto the lever and at the other endto the frame 1. Said lever can be forced downwardly by means of a push-pin 8, passing through an opening 9 in a plate l0 supported in the forward part of the frame 1. forced downwardly by the operator the arm imparts rotation to the wheel 4 and cyl-- inder 3, such arm passing'downwardly out of range of the teeth, permitting the cylinder to rotate freely from the "momentum thereof.

At the inner endof the plate 10is an in-, clined cross-piece 11, and encircling the cylinder 3 is a hood 12, the forward edge of which is spaced apart from the upper edge of the cross-piece 11. Attached to said cross When the lever is piece, near its upper edge, is a'strip 13, di-

gressive order, from one sideto'the other;

Attached to the cylinder 3 is a chart, made up of eight columns of spaces,*each of said spaces containing wordingfto designate 1 ii play in the game, each of said columns con taining a variety of suchv plays suchas would ordinarily occur in a game ofz'baseball. The arrangement is such thatione of the lines of spaces 16 will be visibile' at' a' 7 time through the space between the cross ,2

piece 11 and, hood 12, as clearly appears in' Fig.1. I

The upper part of the platelOis provided-" with a representation of-a baseball diamond', asishown-atlfland such other fea-" tures connected with the game as may be desired. To" facilitate the f playing of the game players 18 can be employed, of two dilferent kinds orcolors, and sufiicient'in number to represent the "requisite number, ofplayers on each side of the game.

To play the game,'-one of' thepieces 1'8:

. is placed'on thehome plate of the diamond,

and the pin 'Spushed downwardly'by the finger of the player. This causes the cylinmi] I der 3' torotate, and such rotation may be permitted tocontinue until the wheel stops? 7 of its own accord, or it can bechecked byremoving the finger, letting the lever return to its former position. In any case, the

' game.

.finger is removedcbef ore the play is com- This prevents any'inanipulation or the wheel, which might be attempted, in order to get it to stop at some desiredpoint in its rotation. H

Upon the wheel being stopped, one of the lines on the chart 15, isvisible, as betor stated. On this line eight different plays are indicated, however, but each of said plays relates to a different condition of the game. In the pres it case, with the game just starting, the character of the play is indicated and governed by the first space at the right on the permanent indicator, or bases empty. The play will then be a strike, ball, or whatever play is indicated in the column corresponding with that condition. It the play is a one base hit, the player is advanced to first base,- and another batter provided. The play is now governed by the second column, or man on Pst. The designations on. the movable indicator now differ from those on the first column, as it is trequently necessary to show two plays,

as for instance, one base hit, and man to 3rd or home. in case of the lav bein a cm a base hit, and man to third, then the next play is controlledby the column heaced Man on 1st and 3rd. It the bases are all occupied, the last column at the left determines the nature of the play.

The selectionand arrangement of the various plays on the chart is purely arbitrary, it being necessary to provide some forty or more of such designations in each column to cover all of the chances of an ordinary In playing the. game, oneside plays until three men are'out, when the other side has an inning. in the usual way. Regular tallysheets can be kept, if desired, an i the pitcher, catcher, and other players or" the out'team arranged on the field in the usual positions. If desired, the pieces used in playing the game can be numbered, or otherwise marked to correspond with theplayers of well-known ball teams.

In games of ordinary size it will be necessary to abbreviate the words on the indicators, and contract the diamond and field,

but in those of larger'size it will not benecessary to do this. V 5 What I claim and desire. to secure, s:

1. In a flame a naratus'. a'trame havin' a n pl in top portion upon which the game field is displayed, a housing at one edge of said top portiomsaid housing having. awindow, a

permanent indicator-lying along the longitudinal edge of sai d'window and haying" spaces containing indicia of the principal conditions of the game, an ndicator cylind er rotatable in said housing and having ually turning said cylinder, said means comprising a toothed wheel on one end of the cylinder, a lever :tulcrumed on said frame and having a tooth to engage said toothed wheel, spring mean normally holding said lever in raised position with its tooth engaged with the wheel, means for manually depressingsaid lever so as to disengage it from said toothed wheel and give a turning impulse to said cylinder to rotate the same freely, said lever adapted to re-cngage and lock the wheel when released.

2. In a game apparatus, a frame having a top portion upon which the game field is displayed, housing at one edge of said to i portion, said housing having a window, a permanent indicator'lying along the longitudinal edge of said window and having spaces containing indicia of the principal conditions of the game, an indicator cylinder rotatable in said housing and havingjcircumterential columns and longitudinal rows of plays on its periphery corresponding to the spaces of said permanent indicator, one longitudinal row being visible at a time through said window, means for manually spinning said cylinder, aid means comprising a toothed wheel on one end of the cylinder, a lever fulcrumed on said frame and having a tooth to engage said toothed wheel,

spring means normally holding said lever in raised position with its tooth engaged with the wheel, means for manually depressing said lever so as to disengage it from said toothed wheel and ive a turning impulse to said cylinder to rotate the freely, said lever adapted to reengage said directions adjacent the opening, there be inn one direction for each column of plays on the cylinder. a toothed wheel on the cylinder, a lever having a tooth engagingsaid 126 toothed wheehspring neans for normally holding the lever in raisedposition. with its tooth engaged with the wheel 'so as to lock the cylinder, meansior manually depressing said lever so as to disengage it from the no toothed wheel and cause rotation of the cylinder. the lever re-engaging and locking the wheel when released.

4:. A device of the class described, comprising a frame; a shaft rotatably mounted in one end thereof; a cylindrical member secured to said shaft; a toothed wheel fixed to said shaft; a spring-controlled leveroperatively associated with said wheel, to cause a rotation of said cylinder at times and to lock said cylinder against rotation at other times; a plate mounted in said frame, bearing the representation of the fieldupon which the game is played; a permanent indicator on said frame, showing a series of the principal conditions thereof; and a plurality of plays of the game on said cylinder, arranged in columns corresponding-With the permanent designations.

5. In a device of the class described,

frame; a shaft rotatably mounted therein; a cylinder secured on said shaft showing a plurality of plays in a game, arranged in lines laterally of said cylinder and in columns circumferentially thereof; an indicator on said frame, showing the principal conditions under which the game is played, arranged to correspond with said columns; a cover for said cylinder, having an opening through which oneof the lines on said cylinder can be disclosed at a time; and manually operated means for rotating said cylinder so that upon the same being stopped'one of said lines will be visible through said opening and a spring device cooperating with said means for stopping said cylinder.

6. In a device of the class described. v a frame; a shaft rotatably mounted therein; a cylinder carried by said shaft, showing a plurality of plays in the game, arranged in lines laterally of the cylinder, and in columns circumferentially thereof; a cover for said cylinder, having an opening through which one of said lines can be disclosed at a time; a toothed wheel on said shaft; a spring-controlled lever normally in engagement with said wheel, and adapted when thrust in one direction to impart complete rotation thereto, the return movement of said lever operating to give said-wheel a partial reverse rotation; "and an indicator on said frame, containing the principal conditions under which the gameis played, arranged to coincide with the columns on said cylinder.

7. In a game apparatus of the character specified, a casing having a top portion upon which the game field is displayed, a rotatable cylinder in the casing at one'edge of the field bearing upon its periphery plays, a permanent indicator on the top adjacent to said cylinder showing the principal conditions of the game and cooperative with the cylinderand game field, a lever fulcrumed at one end at another edge of said casing and having a ben't tooth'ele vment at its free end,a toothed wheel on said cylinder with which said bent tooth element is adapted to engage, a spring for holding said'lever in the normal position withits tooth, element in engagement with said toothed wheel tolock said cylinder against rotation, and a finger piece toengagesaid'.

lever for depressing the same to thereby cause rotation of said cylinder and move said tooth element out of engagement with said toothed wheel to permit st" cylinder to spin, the aforesaid parts being"so"arranged that upon release of said lever said tooth element will engage said toothed wheel and impart a partial reverse rotation to said cylinder before lockingthe same;

8. In a game apparatus embodying a frame and cylinder rotatable in one end thereof, a toothed wheel on one end of-theas to disengage it from the toothed-wheel and cause the-cylinderto spin, the lever re engaging and locking the wheel when released. I

9. Ina-game apparatus-of the character described, a rotatablymounted cylinder, a toothed wheel on the cylinder, lever hav-' ing a tooth engaging said toothed wheel, spring means for normally holding the lever in raised position with its tooth engaged with-the wheel so as to lock the cylinder, and means for manually depressing the le ver so as to remove it from the path of rotation of said toothed wheel and permit the cylinder to rotate freely; the lever reengaging and lockingthe wheel when'released. 10. In a device of the'class described, frame; a shaft rotatably mounted'therein:

a cylinder carried by said shaft, showinga plurality-of plays in the game, arranged in lines laterally of the cylinder, and in columns circumferentially thereof; a cover cylinder, having 7 an open ng} for said through which one of said, lines can be disclosed at a time; a toothed wheel on=said shaft; a spring-controlled lever normally in engagement with said wheel and adapted. when depressed, to spin said wheel and cylinder, the return movement of said lever operating to give said wheel and cylinder a partial reverse rotation; and an indicator on said frame, containing the principal conditions under which the game is played, ar-

ranged to coincide with the columns on said cylinder. i

11. In game apparatus, a rotatably mounted cyl1nder, a toothed Wheel on the cylinder, a leverhaving teeth engaging said toothed wheel, spring means normally holding the lever in raised position with the teeth engaged with the wheel so asto lock the cylinder, means by which said lever may v bemanually depressed todisengage it from saidtoothed wheel and thereby impart teeth, a spring for holding said lever in one position to engage said teeth and lock said wheel against movement and finger operated means for moving the lever against tension of the spring through an arc sufiicient to d sengage 1t wholly from said teeth and thereby impart spinning JXLOtlOl'l to said cylinder while said lever remains depressed,;

for the purposes specified.

13. In game apparatus of the character described, support, a cylinder mounted on said support, said cylinder having a plurality of V -shaped teeth. a lever fulcrumed on said support, and having its end provided with a projection to engage said teeth, a, spring for :holding said lever in one position to engage saidteeth and lock said wheel against movement and finger operated means for moving the lever against tension of the spring through an arc suificient to disengage it wholly from said teeth and thereby impart spinning motion to said cylinder while said lever remains depressed, said lever and said teeth being so arranged that upon return of said lever under spring action it will again engage the teeth of said cyhnde'r and mpart a limited backward rotation to said cylinder before looking the same.

7 1 4. A game apparatus of the character; specified comprising a casing having a top portion marked to indicate a gamefi'eld; a rotatable cylinder n the casing'at one side of the field bearing upon its periphery indicia indicating plays arranged in circumferenti-al columns and longitudinal rows, the casing having a longitudinal sight opening adjacent the cylinder through which one of the-rows of plays isvisib'le, said casing bearing a row of indicia indicating the conditionofthe bases on the field, therebeing one indication for each column on the cylinder, a toothed wheel on the cylinder,a lever having a tooth engaging said'tojothedwheel, spring means for normally holding the lever inraised position with its tooth engaged with the Wheelso as to lock the cylinder, and means for manually depressing the lever so as to disengage it from the toothed wheel and permit the cylinder to rotate; the lever reengaging and locking the wheel when released 15. A game apparatus comprising a casing having ind-icia for a baseball field on its top, and having indicia at the sidesof the field indicating the-benches and having indicia along the edges of the held for the placement of out players, playing pieces adapted to cooperate-with said indicia; a rotatable cylinder along one edge of the field extending longitudinally thereof and rotatahly mounted in the casing, said cylinder bearing on its periphery circumferential columns with indicia indicating acts to be performed upon thefielchthe plays in adjacent'columns being also arranged in rows extending longitudinally of the cylinder; a cover for'the cylinder provided. with a longitudinal sight opening through which one longitudinal row of playson the cylinder may be read and, a series of indicia designating the condition of the bases of the field, located adjacent to said. sight opening by which differe'nt Fplays aregoverned, there being one indicia for each columnof plays, a toothed wheel on the cylinder, a lever having a tooth engaging said toothed wheel, spring means for normally holding the lever in raised position with its tooth engaging with the wheel so asto lock the cylinder, and means for manually depressing the, lever so as to disengage it from the toothed wheel and permit the cylinder to rotate; the lever reengaging and locking the wheel when released.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEONARD D. KROFF. 

